Korea talks go through the night

Seoul: North and South Korea's first official talks for more than two years have dragged into the early hours of the morning, as they struggle to set up a high-level meeting after months of tensions and threats of nuclear war.

Sunday's marathon preparatory discussions - weighed down, as always, by decades of mutual distrust - were held in the border truce village of Panmunjom where the armistice ending the 1950-53 Korean War was signed.

Kim Song Hye, center, the head of North Korea's delegation, shakes hands with an unidentified South Korean officer before crossing a military demarcation line, which has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War, for a meeting with South Korean delegates at Panmunjom in Paju, north of Seoul, South Korea. Photo: AP

The main challenge was to agree a framework for what would be the two Koreas first ministerial-level meeting since 2007 - tentatively scheduled to be held in Seoul on Wednesday.

After a reportedly productive morning session, another seven rounds stretched the talks late into the night and, as of 2.30am (0330 AEST) on Monday had failed to secure a final framework for the proposed Seoul dialogue.

The South's Yonhap news agency quoted official sources as saying a broad agreement had been reached, but negotiations were continuing on certain issues, including who would lead the North's delegation.

The agenda in Seoul was to focus on restoring suspended commercial links, including the Kaesong joint industrial complex that the North effectively shut down in April as tensions between the historic rivals peaked.

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Sunday's talks came about after an unexpected reversal from North Korea, which suddenly dropped its default tone of high-decibel belligerence and proposed opening a dialogue.

South Korea responded swiftly with its offer of a ministerial meeting in Seoul, the North countered with a request for lower-level talks first and - after some relatively benign to-and-fro about the best venue - Sunday's meeting in Panmunjom was agreed.

In a further signal of intent, North Korea on Friday restored its official hotline with the South, which it had severed in March.